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Aluminum ball shift knob

Threadkiller

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I have been looking for an aluminum shift knob with a 2.25" or a 2.5" diameter, and I cannot seem to find one. All that I have been able to find stop at a 2" diameter for whatever reason. Does anyone have the ability to make one? I do not have access to a lathe or whatever else you would need to make it. I also need it to be tapped for a 16x1.5 thread. I dont know why I cannot find one on all of the interwebz
 
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Threadkiller

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Haha yeah I know. For some reason the 2" ones feel way too small in my big mitts. Thats a pretty cool knob, but I just want a plain aluminum one. I have a delrin one now which is pretty cool but doesnt have the feel of metal which I like.
 

brawls43

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Aug 29, 2012
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Minneapolis
I also prefer the 2.25-2.5" shift balls, I had a pool ball or resin one from MRT on a car. I like the less burning feel of it when I come out to my car after parking it in the sun. I like the idea of the ball hitch though. I've been thinking about the shift knob for an old truck, and I may have to try that out.
 

mmack66

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Kansas City, MO
I have been looking for an aluminum **** knob with a 2.25" or a 2.5" diameter, and I cannot seem to find one. All that I have been able to find stop at a 2" diameter for whatever reason. Does anyone have the ability to make one? I do not have access to a lathe or whatever else you would need to make it. I also need it to be tapped for a 16x1.5 thread. I dont know why I cannot find one on all of the interwebz

:spit:
 
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Threadkiller

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If you're actually going to drive the car you might want to reconsider the aluminum.
If you do not powder coat or clear coat it it'll make your hand black enough to jack up your clothes...and it'll make your hand smell funny. Maybe I'm a bit more acidic than normal, but raw aluminum jacks with me as badly as brass.

http://www.libertybrass.com/catalog.html?action=categoryView&cid=6&gclid=CInO8-ff7bUCFcyiPAodAFUAKQ

http://www.salemball.com/inventory/aluminumInv.htm

A ball hitch would be a fun replacement....

Wow I never had that problem, I had a smaller polished aluminum shift ball in my last car. Thanks for the links.

I also prefer the 2.25-2.5" shift balls, I had a pool ball or resin one from MRT on a car. I like the less burning feel of it when I come out to my car after parking it in the sun. I like the idea of the ball hitch though. I've been thinking about the shift knob for an old truck, and I may have to try that out.

Im willing to sacrifice having a 6speed pattern permanently embossed on my hand to have the aluminum haha.

Try Joe at Knobmeister.

He has some listed that are slightly larger (2.1") but he might be able to spin a larger one for you.

http://www.knobmeister.com/page14.php?view=productListPage&category=1

Thanks Ill have to send him an email and see what he could come up with.
 

1953mercury

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Nov 25, 2012
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Steamboat Springs CO
Cue ball worked well for me. A little larger than most knobs, but feels just right in the hand. Drilled it on the mill and epoxied in a long threaded hex connector. Mike

CIMG0001-5_zps1c14fcc4.jpg
 
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rburke65

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Canfield, Ohio
Yep....I feel that a standard size shift ball feels like I'm holding a marble sometimes. I would like a larger size myself.
 
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rsanter

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Look at some of the other racing supply places, but I hope you are not planning that it is solid as that is a lot of weight that if you get a vibration can pop the car out of gear

Bob
 

Buckgnarly

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VT
This is a GREAT guy who has made two custom ones for me in the past...he can even put stuff into the resin for you.

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fivespdcat

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Oct 25, 2011
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Aluminum looks great, but make sure you get a mit or drop something over it in the summer. The last thing you want to do on a 90+ day is jump in the car and grab a piece of hot aluminum. It's something you don't think about until driving a car with a billet shift knob for a while, ask me how I know...
 

jrlp

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Laredo, Texas
Aluminum looks great, but make sure you get a mit or drop something over it in the summer. The last thing you want to do on a 90+ day is jump in the car and grab a piece of hot aluminum. It's something you don't think about until driving a car with a billet shift knob for a while, ask me how I know...

I made a 2" ball hitch knob. Cut the threaded shaft off flush, grinded the end smooth, prettied it up with a flap disk. Then I drilled and tapped it all the Eau down save for maybe 3/8 " from the top. Then I test fit and drilled out the threads a bit at a time till I got the height I wanted.

Our summers get to 118 here, I've ir temped it at over 180F. Good thing I'm a weldor. I shift with my finger tips with the AC vent pointed at it until it drops to 140 then I can hold it indefinitely.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
 

Kevin54

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Aluminum looks great, but make sure you get a mit or drop something over it in the summer. The last thing you want to do on a 90+ day is jump in the car and grab a piece of hot aluminum. It's something you don't think about until driving a car with a billet shift knob for a while, ask me how I know...

Yep...That was going to be my warning too. I had a shift knob that was polished aluminum I made to look like dice. I got off work one afternoon when the sun was full bore in the summer, got in started the truck, and grabbed the knob :scared: That thing had to be 150 degrees. After that, I started throwing a shop rag over it during the day.
 
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Threadkiller

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Messages
167
Location
Dutchess County, NY
I made a 2" ball hitch knob. Cut the threaded shaft off flush, grinded the end smooth, prettied it up with a flap disk. Then I drilled and tapped it all the Eau down save for maybe 3/8 " from the top. Then I test fit and drilled out the threads a bit at a time till I got the height I wanted.

Our summers get to 118 here, I've ir temped it at over 180F. Good thing I'm a weldor. I shift with my finger tips with the AC vent pointed at it until it drops to 140 then I can hold it indefinitely.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Yep...That was going to be my warning too. I had a shift knob that was polished aluminum I made to look like dice. I got off work one afternoon when the sun was full bore in the summer, got in started the truck, and grabbed the knob :scared: That thing had to be 150 degrees. After that, I started throwing a shop rag over it during the day.

hahaha everyone says im crazy cause itll be so hot in the summer. I had one on my last car (smaller diameter) and it never really bothered me too much. I mean it was hot but nothing unbearable, at least for me...maybe im just numb to heat? I do weld a lot too.
 
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